Page 22 - Volume 11 Number 7

Clyde then applied full throttle and climbed to a higher altitude as he flew high above Main Street before landing near the Jones factory.
Both flights were successful in
igniting public support for the city’s
first aircraft manufacturer. Soon
after landing, Clyde’s machine
was surrounded by hundreds of
onlookers anxious to get a closer
view of the aviator’s steed. Flushed
with success, Clyde and Roy were
whisked away to a special luncheon
held in their honor by the Wichita
Aero Club whose members were
there in force: Jack Turner, C.C.
Bayless, Jerome Herington, Elmer
Reese, Hal Black, Henry Lassen,
George Sherwood and Charles E. Becker, publicity manager for J.J. Jones.
These men reaffirmed publicly their desire and support for C.V. Cessna’s transition to Wichita, as well as offering financial and logistical support for the establishment of an aircraft factory and a flying school. A few days later, Aero Club officials told the local press that Mr. Cessna had officially accepted their offer and had begun the process of relocating his family to the city. By the time of the official announcement more than 40 men had expressed an interest in taking flying lessons, but Clyde cautioned that it would be at least six months before classes could begin. Of
these men, none was more jubilant than Jack Turner. The wealthy Wichitan was outspoken in his zeal for aviation and learning to fly, and quickly approached Clyde about designing a custom-built monoplane for his personal transportation.2
During the next few days Clyde and Roy inspected Building “I” that would become their workshop at the Jones factory. It proved to be more than adequate at 80 feet in length and 50 feet in width. Cessna estimated that he could build up to 10 airplanes during the first year
In October 1915, the Wichita Aero Club sponsored a balloon race aimed at exposing the public to the new science of aeronautics. The event was held at the baseball diamond located on Ackerman’s Island that also served as the location of Wonderland Park. (COURTESY OF THE SEDGWICK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM)
Cessna’s first successful airplane was nicknamed Silverwings by Cessna because of the color of the cloth covering on its wings. Clyde taught himself to fly in the little monoplane, which was powered by a two-stroke, four-cylinder air-cooled Elbridge marine engine rated at
40 horsepower. Cessna flew the airplane at regional and county fairs, often earning $200-500 for a flight lasting five minutes while performing a figure-eight above the crowds. (EDWARD H. PHILLIPS COLLECTION)